Many of the books donated by the International Book Project are well-loved children’s books.
A huge pallet full of children’s books made their way to the Mason County Extension Office last week.
A large number of books have made their way to Mason County, thanks to a grant from the Lexington Rotary Club.
The International Book Project, based out of Lexington, Ky., shipped 2,152 books to the Mason County Extension Office on Thursday, Oct. 23 in an effort to build up their miniature libraries for individuals living in low-income housing.
The International Book Exchange began in 1965, when Harriet Van Meter traveled to India with a group of foreign student advisors.
According to the International Book Exchange’s website, once she arrived, Van Meter saw a desperate need for books. When she returned to her home in Lexington, she wrote a letter to the editor of the Hintu Times and offered to send books to anyone who would write letters to her. According to reports, she received 400 letters within weeks.
“So her home on Mentelle Park became a center for collecting, storing, and packaging books for shipment first to families, and then schools, colleges, and libraries who requested them from India, and as word spread, from countries all over the world,” states the website.
Since its inception, the International Book Project has shipped over seven million books to 167 countries all around the world.
Today, when Mason County Horticulture Agent Macy Fawns revealed her vision to make learning and literacy more obtainable for local residents, many people stepped up to the plate to help her make it a reality. The Mason County Cooperative Extension Council, Mason County Detention Center, Mason County Public Library and the Mason County Housing Authority all collaborated on the project to create three book boxes located in various Maysville neighborhoods.
Fawns stated that the sheer intensity of local residents’ desire for books has been overwhelming in the best way. However, it was not long before borrowers began seeking out more reading material.
“We have asked the community, we have went and bought from Goodwill, we’ve had people drop books off, but we just could not keep up with the demand of children’s books,” said Fawns.
She explained that 4-H/Horticulture Program Assistant Kimberly Bailey had been looking for ways to acquire more books; specifically, children’s books. So, the two applied for the International Book Project and reported that they were happy to be accepted.
The International Book Project offers gently used children’s books free of charge, only asking for shipping. The Lexington Rotary Club offered to cover the shipping charge.
Fawns stated that the books arrived last week and boxes are already being filled, noting that all of the books have been in very good condition so far, some of them being library books.
“Those three libraries, we’ve just, we’ve been having trouble keeping them full. It’s a really good problem to have. We want them to take them. We want them to have a full library at their house,” said Fawns. “This donation is a humongous help. We got a pallet load and we’re super grateful for them.”
Miniature library locations include Beechwood, Amo Peters and Elizabeth Street.
